Return-Path: <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g3PLhgu16873; Thu, 25 Apr 2002 17:43:42 -0400 (EDT) Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 17:43:42 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <C50587E3B025D3118DDB00A0C9FC3C5E02F3CE4F@EXCHANGE> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Virginia Tardaewether <tarv@exchange.chemeketa.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1009] Re: Virginia X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: text/plain; X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2653.19) Status: O Content-Length: 5475 Lines: 164 thanks for your comments Ted Virginia Tardaewether Chemeketa {Place of Peace} Outreach Instructor Dallas, OR 97338 tarv@chemeketa.edu 503-316-3242 -----Original Message----- From: Ted Rohling [mailto:tedr@instructors.net] Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2002 2:20 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1006] Re: Virginia I work in a classroom where I receive an evalution from each student at least once a week, if not twice. These are adults and not children so I have learned to get a "thick skin" and not worry a lot about the evaluations. My performance speaks for itself in the outcomes. As a parent who has visited school with my children, I know only too well the disruptive nature for the students and the "evaluation" effect on the teacher. If more parents could visit school, the disruption effect would go away. The parents would become a welcome part of the day. In a low literacy setting, the parents may not be able to visit school, assist or participate because of work or family obligations. In other settings, more participation might be possible. During my visits, the teacher was very uneasy and did go into "performance mode". We had a follow-up discussion of why I was there, to see my child, and I explained I didn't care how the class went, I wanted to see how my child was interacting in class. After a couple of days, I was just part of the class. On Friday, I even got to read a story! This thread started because of a comment about military parents participation. After 10 years of military service, I can tell you all that the military is different. They can allow free time for school participation because they are employed 24 hours a day/365 days of the year. An hour or two a week to go to school is a good investment when the military member is obliged to be away from family sometimes for a year or two at a time. It is morale issue as well as an investment issue. Military children do well because of the family discipline and expectations. I.E., if your kid messes up in school, you get to explain it to the "boss". Not as bad today as it was in the past but... Hope this too helps. Ted -----Original Message----- From: nifl-family@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-family@nifl.gov]On Behalf Of Colleen Angaiak Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2002 3:59 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1005] Re: Virginia Ideally, that is what having someone else watch you would be. But realistically, it often feels more like an "intrusion," as bad as that sounds. I think the other factor is that if you are a teacher, you know that kids, of any age, can be so unpredictable! I have a teacher friend who was observed by a principal immediately after a sink in the room made a noise like a bodily function. This, of course, set the kids (third graders) off, and they continued to giggle and be silly for a long time afterward. Of course, the teacher was able to explain later, but at the time it was really uncomfortable for her. And finally, I think any time you are being observed, you do go into a "performance mode," because you have an audience. With a superior, you are being judged and evaluated, and you want to do your best. With a parent, you are under they eye of the most important person in one of your students' lives, and you want to show that you are doing a good job. Sorry to ramble on again! It's just that I understand this feeling all too well! Colleen --- Virginia Tardaewether <tarv@exchange.chemeketa.edu> wrote: > Gosh I guess I was thinking that having someone > watch would be like having a > team mate, someone to help you see what you missed > and to catch you doing > things well. > Va > > Virginia Tardaewether > > Chemeketa {Place of Peace} > Outreach Instructor > Dallas, OR 97338 > > tarv@chemeketa.edu > 503-316-3242 > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Colleen Angaiak [mailto:c_angaiak@yahoo.com] > Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2002 12:40 PM > To: Multiple recipients of list > Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1002] Re: Parents as first > teachers (long) > > > Virginia, > While I haven't had tons of teaching experience, I > am > a teacher, as is my husband. I think that when you > have a permanent classroom situation, you can get > very > territorial, and having someone come in just feels > somewhat uncomfortable. You come up with ways that > work for you and the students you have at that time, > and you fear someone may come in and tell you you're > doing it "wrong." Plus there's always the fear of > public failure, either real or perceived. I know > that > just as a parent, I always modify a little bit when > my > mom or other family members are around, and I > remember > feeling that need when being observed as a teacher. > It's just not a comfortable feeling. > > Finally, there is so much pressure on teachers that > I > think having someone watch how you do things, > particularly if you are aware of what can go wrong, > is > just stressful. > > Just my insights! > > > > ===== > Colleen Angaiak > Even Start Coordinator > Literacy Council of Alaska > 1949 Gillam Way > Fairbanks, AK 99709 > Phone: 907/456-5013 > Fax: 907/456-1657 > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Games - play chess, backgammon, pool and more > http://games.yahoo.com/ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Games - play chess, backgammon, pool and more http://games.yahoo.com/
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Jan 17 2003 - 14:41:02 EST